One of them certainly ended in the pool but I think the champions league ball ended after a spectacular Pete volley.

Indeed we must, although I think our cricket pitch may have gone.

Haha, we can easily make it again. Pretty sure it started to flatten out after we played on it for an hour or two. I played cricket for the first time in ages yesterday, and it showed. Several horrible edges and several horrible bruises to show for it.

"The PFA does not represent players when they have broken the law and been convicted on non-football matters."- Gordon Taylor in 2009 following Marlon King's release after a prison sentence for sexual assault & ABH

So introduce it a month after the last WC is over. That way teams have four years to get used to it. Whining or not, isn't it completely legitimate to complain that the most important piece of equipment on the field changes right before the most important event of many of these players lives?

Originally Posted by KungFu_Kallis

Peter Siddle top scores in both innings....... Matthew Wade gets out twice in one ball

I dunno about other countries, but the Bundesliga used the ball all season and the Danish teams had the opportunity. I think Nike make the Premiership balls here, so they wouldn't be able to bring them in in England.

Originally Posted by Top_Cat

1) Had double pneumonia as a kid, as did my twin sis. Doctors told my parents to pray that we lived through the night. Dad said **** off, I'm an atheist, you ****s better save my kids, etc. Then prayed anyway.

So introduce it a month after the last WC is over. That way teams have four years to get used to it. Whining or not, isn't it completely legitimate to complain that the most important piece of equipment on the field changes right before the most important event of many of these players lives?

When I over-hit a cross, I don't blame it on the ball, I blame it on the fact I'm ****.

Suggest the players start doing the same.

Originally Posted by cpr

3. Although Cow Tipping is a hilarious student game in backwater towns such as Bangor, there really is no need for Mitchell to cover one side of the cow in superglue

I'm not saying it's a valid excuse as all teams have the same ball - but the fact is why change something so fundamental to something players are not used to? Surely that has an effect on the overall quality of play?

Even the most minor of changes would have big ramifications at this level.

I'm not saying it's a valid excuse as all teams have the same ball - but the fact is why change something so fundamental to something players are not used to? Surely that has an effect on the overall quality of play?

Even the most minor of changes would have big ramifications at this level.

Each league has different ball rights with people like Nike/Mitre/Adidas/Puma and so on. So the guys in the Premiership play with a different ball to the guys in Spain/Germany/Italy and so on. Need a World Cup ball precisely so they do have the same ball and a level playing field.

I'm not saying it's a valid excuse as all teams have the same ball - but the fact is why change something so fundamental to something players are not used to? Surely that has an effect on the overall quality of play?

Even the most minor of changes would have big ramifications at this level.

Its not like they were all playing with the same ball before the world cup, though. The tournament needs a standard ball, and they have to adapt no matter what.

Originally Posted by Athlai

If GI 'Best Poster On The Forum'Joe says it then it must be true.

Athlai doesn't lie. And he doesn't do sarcasm either, so you know it's true!

Each league has different ball rights with people like Nike/Mitre/Adidas/Puma and so on. So the guys in the Premiership play with a different ball to the guys in Spain/Germany/Italy and so on. Need a World Cup ball precisely so they do have the same ball and a level playing field.

Not only that, but the Jabulani has been used at the FIFA World Club Cup, the African Cup of Nations, has been available to use in the Bundesliga (which doesn't have a matchball sponsor, so Adidas sponsored teams have had the option of using it in home games), the MLS, Argentinian Clausura and the latter stages of the Scottish Cup.

It's not like the ball has been brought in cold, it's been used reasonably extensively throughout the last 6 months.

Not only that, but the Jabulani has been used at the FIFA World Club Cup, the African Cup of Nations, has been available to use in the Bundesliga (which doesn't have a matchball sponsor, so Adidas sponsored teams have had the option of using it in home games), the MLS, Argentinian Clausura and the latter stages of the Scottish Cup.

It's not like the ball has been brought in cold, it's been used reasonably extensively throughout the last 6 months.

Has it been used at altitude?

Sorry, I've lived through all these nonsense ball-scare stories, but this time it doesn't seem to be bull****. Most forward balls are being over-hit, almost all free-kicks seem to be blasted over the bar, and the ball seems very hard to control. Some dipping when it's hit low, too, but I don't mind that. Keepers should be able to handle that if their technique is good.

Maybe the players will adjust as the tourney goes on, but so far there's been about two good goals, everything else seems basic mistakes or set pieces.

Do I contradict myself?
Very well then I contradict myself,
(I am large, I contain multitudes.Walt Whitman

Sorry, I've lived through all these nonsense ball-scare stories, but this time it doesn't seem to be bull****. Most forward balls are being over-hit, almost all free-kicks seem to be blasted over the bar, and the ball seems very hard to control. Some dipping when it's hit low, too, but I don't mind that. Keepers should be able to handle that if their technique is good.

Maybe the players will adjust as the tourney goes on, but so far there's been about two good goals, everything else seems basic mistakes or set pieces.

Not sure how high grounds are in the US or Argentina.

If there's a problem then it's more down to altitude than the ball. There will be less resistance so the ball will travel through the air further and bounce higher - that would be an issue even if you used the Nike balls that are used in the Premiership or La Liga, or even the Adidas Finale ball used in the Champions League.

If there's a problem then it's more down to altitude than the ball. There will be less resistance so the ball will travel through the air further and bounce higher - that would be an issue even if you used the Nike balls that are used in the Premiership or La Liga, or even the Adidas Finale ball used in the Champions League.

Well yes, but they knew it was going to be played at altitude, so why did they use these beach balls, maybe even have ones that would fly less?